Tool for sampling baled material



April 11, 1944.

L. KIENZLE ET AL TOOL FOR SAMPLING BALED MATERIAL Eiled Sept. 4, 1941 KEN S Y mmu E m M W .m ICT IT RR A um EH Patented Apr. ii, 3%44 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,346,220 TOOL FOR. SAMPLING BALED MATERIAL Application September 4, 1941, Serial No. 409,592

2 Claims.

This invention relates to tools for sampling baled material, which include a tube insertable in the bale for cutting out a sample which is withdrawn with the tube and removed from the tube for examination, and has for its object a means or chuck for securing an arcuate or circular knife to one end of the tube, by which the knife can be readily removed and replaced.

It further has for its object a driving or rotating means for the tube, by which the tube can be actuated by an electric motor or other power instrument from which driving means the tube can be readily removed for the purpose of removing the sample from the tube, and on which it can be quickly remounted for obtaining another sample.

It further has for its object a knife construction and means for locating and holding it and also an arcuate or annular knife with a cutting edge of such shape as to cut or sever each fiber only once, and thereby avoid chopping, comminuting, and hence the formation of dust from the fibers themselves.

It further has for its object a knife holder or chuck of minimum thickness with respect to the thickness of the wall of the tube and which is readily operable to remove or replace the knife.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of this tool with the contiguous portion of a bale of material, as wool, being shown from which the tool has been withdrawn with the sample therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the tool with the driving means omitted.

Figure 3 is an end view looking to the right in Figure 2.

the sample, it is requisite not to create dust or fine chips of wool fiber during the cutting of the sample, and hence necessary that each fiber be out only once.

This sampling tool is designed to fulfill the above requirements.

The tool scomprises, generally, a cylindrical tubular body I, a head 2 at one end of the tubular body for attachment to a driving spindle, as that 01' a portable electric motor, the tube being readily removable from the head to permit the sample to be removed thereirom, and a chuck 3 at the other end or the tubular body, this including a removable annular ring for securing an annular or arcuate kmi'e 4 in the chuck with the cutting edge projecting beyond the edge of the chuck, but in a circle alined with and of the same diameter as the tubular body. The head 2 comprises a plug portion 5 which telescopes into the end of the tube I, the head being formed with an axial conical-passage 6 for receiving the spindle 'I at the end of the shaft or rotor of a portable electric motor designated generally 8. This motor has suitable handles, one being a pistol grip 9. A trigger Ill 15 arranged in Juxtaposltlon thereto for operating the controlling switch of the motor.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively an enlarged sectional view and a fragmentary perspective view of the knife.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the notched ends of the split annular knife for receiving the locating and retaining pin of the chuck.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary end view with the knife holding chuck and knife in section showing the operation of the tool for removing and replacing the inner ring of the chuck.

To determine the value of raw wool, samples are taken from the bales and washed, the amount of foreign matter, etc. and the classification or value of the wool determined from the sample. One use of this tool is for determining the value, and hence the tariff due the government on the shipment of imported bales of wool. In cutting The tool isprovlded with means serving to couple the tube to the head and transmit the rotary movement to the tube, and also permit quick axial separation of the tube from the head to remove the sample therein and quick replacemen-t of the tube to out another sample. As here illustrated, the head 2 is secured to the spindle I by a key ll extending diametrically through the spindle I in the bore '6, the key being here shown as having a screw threaded head threading into a counterbore in the plug portion 5 of the head, the screw head being located below or radially inward from the wall of the tube I. The key II is also provided with or operatesmeans for coupling theplug portion 5 to the tube I, so that the tube will rotate with the head. Thismeans also permits the tube to be separated from the head when suflicient axial separating force is applied to the tube I.

As here illustrated, the key I I is provided with an axial recess I2 opening through one end thereof, in which is located a spring-pressed looking member, as a ball-poppet I3, which coacts with a notch or perforation I4 in the wall of the tube I located to come into alinement with the poppet when the head is properly inserted in the tube I. When sufiicient separating force is applied to the tube I, the poppet is depressed or cammed inwardly permitting the tube to be slid elf the plug portion 5 of the head 2. The tube may be provided with a plurality of holes I4, any

one of which may receive the poppet I3. The

spring-pressed poppet" It serves to transmit the rotary movement of the head 2 to the tube l, and hence to the knife I.

The chuck 3 for holding the arcuate or annular knife 4 comprises an outer cylindrical member or collar 15 secured to the end of the tube remote from the head 2 and forming an extension of the tube, and an inner annular member l6, this being here shown detachably interlocking with the outer member l5 as by threading at ll'into the outer cylindrical member IS. The inner member I6 is also cylindrical in general form and the two members are formed with opposing sp ced cylindrical surfaces l8. l9 respectively, the surface II on the outer member being internal and the surface IS on the inner member being peripheral. The knife 4 is held between the surfaces I8, I 8. The outer member l5, as here shown, threads at 20 into the tube I and the inner end at 2| thereof forms an annular shoulder presented toward the head end of the tube. The shoulder 2| acts as an annular barb to keep the contents of the tube from working toward the knife end of the tube. The knife is usually an annular band split at 22 (Figure 6). The inner or butt edge of the knife abuts against an annular shoulder 23 on the outer chuck member l5. This is of the same radius and in circumferential alinement with the tube l. Hence the knife is in circumferential alinement with the wall of the tube I.

The means for locating and holding the knife from relative rotary movement, as here shown, consists of an inwardly extending radial pin 24 on the internal cylindrical surface It, of the outer chuck member i5 and arranged to enter notches 25 opening through the end edges of the split annular knife 4.

The cutting edge 26 of the knife is in the form of wavy serrations. The knife therefore severs the fibers in contradistinction to breaking and grinding them. The inner member l6 of the chuck is operated by a suitable tool. For removal of the blade 4, a member 21 is provided to slide easily into the inner member l6 it having radially extending, spring-pressed, diametrically opposite pins 28 for entering diametrically opposite perforations 29 in the inner chuck member i8 near the outer end thereof. The member or head 21 is provided with a handle 30, by means of which it is operated. In attaching the head or member 21 to the member I6, one of the pins is placed in one of the holes 29 and the head 21 then pressed radially in one direction, sufficient to permit the tion.

In placing the knife in position, it is placed into the outer chuck member i5 against the shoulder 23 and with the notche 25 embracing the pin 24, the inner retaining ring ii of the chuck is screwed into position. The knife is removedby the reverse of these operations.

In operation, with the tube l assembled on the head 2 and the head coupled to the motor, as in Figure 1, the knife is pressed against the bale and pressure applied while the motor is energized to rotate the tube. The knife cuts into the bale to the full depth of the tube. The tube fills with the sample cut by the knife, as the tube is pushed into the bale, while the tube is rotating. The tube is then pulled out by pulling out on the tube, while the motor is idle, and then sufiicient force applied to the tube to separate the tube from the head 2. The sample is then removed from the tube and examined by washing or dry cleaning, the dust and foreign matter analyzed and weighed, etc., the character of the wool, that is, whether long staple or short staple, etc. determined, the proportion or amount of clean wool throughout the entire bale determined and the value or amount of revenue computed.

Owing to the knife edge, no dust or fragments are created from the wool fibers themselves during the sampling operation.

What we claim is:

l. A tool for sampling compressed baled material comprising a hollow cylindrical tube forming a receptacle for the material of a sample cut from a bale, an arcuate knife located at one end of the tube substantially in alignment with the cylindrical wall thereof, means for detachably securing the knife to the tube including an outer cylindrical member secured to said end of the tube and forming an extension of the same and having an interior clamping face against which the knife is fitted and an inner annular clamping member arranged within the outer cylindrical member and having a peripheral clamping face fitted against the inner face of the knife and clamping the same within the outer cylindrical member, said knife having an outer end cutting edge terminating adjacent the outer end edge of the outer cylindrical member, the major portion of the outer cylindrical member being of greater diameter than the knife and the tube for expanding adjacent the knife the hole cut in a bale by said knife to permit free cutting action of the knife and to reduce friction on the exterior of the knife and the tube, and'means for rotating the cylindrical tube.

2. A tool for sampling compressed baled material comprising a hollow cylindrical tube forming a receptacle for the material of a sample cut from a bale, a knife consisting of an annular band and located at one end of the tube substantially in alignment with the cylindrical wall thereof, said band being split transversely and provided at the ends formed by said splitting with opposed notches, means for detachably securing the knife to the tube including an outer cylindrical member secured to said end of the tube and forming an extension of the same and having an interior clamping face and provided with a shoulder at the inner end thereof and having a pin radially projecting from said face, said knife being fitted against said face and shoulder and having its notches engageable with said radial pin, and an inner annular clamping member arranged within the outer cylindrical member and having a peripheral clamping face fitted against the inner face of the knife and clamping the same within the outer cylindrical member, said knife having an outer end cutting edge terminating adjacent the outer end edge of the outer cylindrical member, the major portion of the outer cylindrical member being of greater diameter than the knife and the tube for expanding adjacent the knife the hole cut in a bale by said knife and to reduce friction on the exterior of the knife and the tube, and means for rotating said tube.

LESTER C. KIENZLE.

HERBERT J. WOLLN'ER. 

